Which lens do you prefer using? Should the Rokinon be used with an EF-S focusing screen? I'd love to hear your thoughts on these lenses (esp. the Rokinon).
I like my Rokinon, it has a wider aperture for less depth of field; the 85/1.8 has af, never used it though. You might pick whether af or dof is more important, not sure you'd see much difference in photos in terms of sharpness.
The Rokinon is very good and usable wide open, perhaps sharper than the Zeiss at that aperture based on other threads I have seen on this site. So iq good either way, I suspect.
AmbientMike wrote:
I like my Rokinon, it has a wider aperture for less depth of field; the 85/1.8 has af, never used it though. You might pick whether af or dof is more important, not sure you'd see much difference in photos in terms of sharpness.
The Rokinon is very good and usable wide open, perhaps sharper than the Zeiss at that aperture based on other threads I have seen on this site. So iq good either way, I suspect.
Does the shallow DOF make MFing with the EF-A VF screen relatively easy and accurate?
Is the EF-A VF screen live view? Focusing at 1.4 is hard, you will need to zoom. Not sure 1.8 would be much easier. Are you shooting indoors? Outdoors bright light can make it hard to see the display.
I wouldn't call MF with this lens easy. I think shallow dof makes MF harder.
I use it mainly on my 5D, and I think MF with it is easy. I use the EE-S screen, so that makes a difference. You gonna to need some practice.
In focus rate with the Rokinon could be up to 80%.
The large aperture makes the viewfinder very rate, that is a plus for focusing. DOF is shallow, but you'll learn
Dpic_arctic wrote:
Does the shallow DOF make MFing with the EF-A VF screen relatively easy and accurate?
No. Faster lenses are more difficult to focus with the EF-A, because the EF-A is a piece of shit which is optimized for brightness (with f4 lenses, etc.) not for accuracy.
Regarding your main question; I own both of these lenses. I use the Rokinon for everything except AF (of course). What this means to me is that I have not used the EF since purchasing the Rokinon. I have been tempted to sell the EF many times over the past months. In fact, it has been sitting in its box for at least 3 months now.
I have owned much more "prestigious" 85mm lenses than the Rokinon and (for my uses) the Rokinon made them all irrelevant.
Why I like the Rokinon over the EF 85/1.8:
- It is just as sharp at f1.4 as the EF 85/1.8 is at 1.8
- It is f1.4
- It has much better manual focus action
- It has the best bokeh of any 85mm lens I have used (and absolutely stomps the EF 85/1.8 in this regard)
- It is cheaper than the EF 85/1.8
Bokeh? (scroll to right for EF 85/1.8, if you can't see them).
AmbientMike wrote:
Is the EF-A VF screen live view? Focusing at 1.4 is hard, you will need to zoom. Not sure 1.8 would be much easier. Are you shooting indoors? Outdoors bright light can make it hard to see the display.
I wouldn't call MF with this lens easy. I think shallow dof makes MF harder.
The EF-A screen is the default focusing screen that comes with the 40D in the VF. I would be shooting in both conditions.
I've kind of caught the "alt glass" bug as of late...well since I started using a 5DMK2. Could someone clue me in on the trade-offs with this alternative focus screens? I'm not very knowledgeable with focus screens and it seems to me they are not easy plug-n-play components to upgrade/install...hopefully I'm wrong.
Right now the EF lenses of choice I use are the 70-200 f/4L, 24-105 f/4L, 17-40 f/4L, and 100 2.8 macro. Would installing an "ees" focus screen negatively impact my use of these lenses while improving the use of lenses such as this 85mm Rokinon or say the Rokkor 58mm f/1.2?
I've kind of caught the "alt glass" bug as of late...well since I started using a 5DMK2. Could someone clue me in on the trade-offs with this alternative focus screens? I'm not very knowledgeable with focus screens and it seems to me they are not easy plug-n-play components to upgrade/install...hopefully I'm wrong.
Right now the EF lenses of choice I use are the 70-200 f/4L, 24-105 f/4L, 17-40 f/4L, and 100 2.8 macro. Would installing an "ees" focus screen negatively impact my use of these lenses while improving the use of lenses such as this 85mm Rokinon or say the Rokkor 58mm f/1.2?
I just got my Ee-S for my 5D and I must tell you I am kicking myself for not getting it ages ago! Makes manual focus on the 5D dead easy. Things pop into focus and out again with lots more separation, and this allows easy and precise focusing. Get one.
Thanks for the quick reply guys...I'll have to look up on B&H or Amazon for the S-Type focus screen. I wonder why B&H doesn't offer this Rokinon? This lens isn't only for crop-sensor bodies is it?
With the oem factory screen in the 40D and 30D, I would have to say no to easy and accurate.
One tip: you might consider getting a Nikon or other mount with focus confirm adapter. Kind of wish I had done that, although I have not used focus confirm and cannot vouch for it.
I think you should get the Rokinon.
Roy: B+H has what appears to be the same lens in Vivitar and Bower mounts. This is a full frame lens. I think the Rokinon is only available from Cameta.
lextalionis wrote:
Thanks for the quick reply guys...I'll have to look up on B&H or Amazon for the S-Type focus screen. I wonder why B&H doesn't offer this Rokinon? This lens isn't only for crop-sensor bodies is it?
Thanks,
Roy
Actually, besides Cameta, there are several stores through Amazon that sell this lens, including Cameta.
You might look for one that has a 14 day return or even 7 day tell them you are going to try one and send it back and get a 85/1.8 if you don't like it.
